Contacts:

Mr. Ron gutkowski
Assistant Superintendent
Safe and Drug Free Schools

Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, S.T.A.N.D.
313-827-3110

Mrs. Jacqui Rivait
Student Assistance Specialist
Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, S.T.A.N.D.   
313-827-3109

Hello Parents,

Across the country and right here in our town a growing number of drivers, especially teen drivers, are in the habit of texting while driving. The very dangerous practice of sending text messages on your cell phone while trying to drive a car at the same time is being linked more and more with the cause of auto accidents. DATT (Drivers Against Texting and Talking), an organization based out of Troy, Michigan is trying to raise awareness and stop this dangerous practice.

The Dearborn Public Schools Safe and Drug Free School program is also sharing the dangers of texting while driving with students at all of our high schools.  The link below is to a video that illustrates the dangers of texting while driving.  It is intense, realistic, and very graphic but delivers a powerful message that parents may want to use as way to begin the discussion with their child about the dangers of texting while driving.

We strongly recommend that parents preview the video before sharing it with your child as it is very graphic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pubTiDCEVZ8

Sincerely,
Jacqui Rivait
Safe and Drug Free Schools

Here are just a few facts about texting and driving supplied by DATT. For more information on DATT visit their website www.dattgroup.org

• Over 60% of American teens admit to risky driving, and nearly half of those that admit to risky driving also admit to text messaging behind the wheel.
• Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.
• Almost 50% of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are texting while driving.
• People who text while driving are 23% more likely to be in a car accident.
• Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near crash events directly related to talking on a cell phone or texting.
• For every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text message spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road. This makes texting the most distracting of all cell phone related tasks.

S.T.A.N.D.

Description:

• STAND (Students Taking A New Direction)

A student leadership group which is open to all upper elementary and middle school students.  There are five components to STAND:  Leadership Training, Parent Involvement, Community Services, Safe and Drug Free Activities, and Personal/School Safety.

• Peer Mediation Training

Training is accomplished with a two day workshop.  The training is based on understanding of peer mediation skills.  Skills include:  understanding conflict, confidentiality, effective communication, empathy skills, active listening and the mediation process.

• Conflict Resolution Training

Training consists of: understanding conflict, effective communication, understanding anger, handling anger and civility skills.

• Angels Week/Red Ribbon Week (October 23 – October 31)

Red ribbon Week was inspired by the heroic work and sacrifice of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.  In 1985, Camarena was working undercover in Mexico to gather information on local drug traffickers.  His identity was discovered and he was abducted, tortured, and killed.  A movement to honor Camarena’s memory was launched within weeks by his friends and family in his hometown of Calexico, CA.  Camarena Clubs were organized and members pledged to live drug free in honor of the fallen agent and others like him.  The clubs gained national attention in the spring of 1985 when two members presented the Camarena Club Proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan.  By summertime, the program spread to other states and parent groups began promoting the wearing of red ribbons as a symbol of the fight against drugs.  The grass-roots movement continued to grow and in 1988 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week.

Celebration ideas:  Wall Out Drugs; Reveal the Truth; Eat, Drink, and Be Informed; Make Some Cents; Educate Parents and Guardians; Get the Message Out; Make a Big Splash; Dress Up Your Parade; Have a “T”-rrific Day; Build Good Character; Wear Red and Win

Contact: www.positivepromotions.com

• Reclaiming Our Wings

A special evening for young ladies and their primary female caregiver.  Each year it is held in the spring.  With the help of local and nationally know speakers, Wings helps to encourage and motivate 9-14 year old girls to make the most of their lives.  Wings seeks to reinforce and sustain positive values among girls by targeting messages to the unique needs, interests, and challenges of girls.

• Literacy for Character and Peace Scholars

This typically takes place during March is Reading Month.  Stories are read to students which focus on educating the heart.  Activities are then given to the teacher to share with students that help build a community in the classroom.  Activities include the first steps in teaching and learning peace making skills, non-violent conflict resolution, and core values enhancement activities.

• Hands Are Not For Hitting

Lesson with a clear message that hands are a wonderful instrument and should be used for good things.  We talk about fun things children can do with their hands including waving hello, drawing and writing, communicating, learning and showing love.  It also highlights the importance of solving problems in non-violent ways.

• Rotary Interact

A Rotary sponsored service club for young people ages 14-18.  The program gives young people an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.

• First Day of School Celebration

Assistance in making your first day of school celebration memorable.

• Connecting Kids With Kids

A curriculum with activities and strategies for making all kids feel they belong through cooperation, tolerance, understanding, sharing, and caring.  Through service and giving, students can learn more about their class, their school community, and themselves.

• Blue Ribbon Giraffe Hero Project

Moving students to tick their necks out for the common good”.  Students need heroes, people with vision and courage, people who are willing to stick their necks out and take responsibility for solving tough problems, on the planet and on the block.  This project teaches courageous compassion and active citizenship.

• The Golden Rule

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Our first goal is that every child learn the Golden Rule.  Our second goal is to encourage every school to adopt the Golden Rule as their official Policy.  The Golden Rule is a concept that people of all cultures and all beliefs can agree upon.  We would like to see the Golden Rule adopted as a standard of interpersonal behavior for the people within our Dearborn Public School community.  Golden rule package includes:  posters for each classroom, signs for each classroom door, two inch student acknowledgement cards that are to be filled out when you notice a student practicing the golden rule, Golden rule Certificates of Honor, and parent cards…letting them know that their child demonstrated the application of the Golden Rule.

• Community Service Opportunities

Updates will be posted on our website.

• Peace and Safe School Pledge

Cards will be provided.

• FISH! For Schools

Creating joyful classrooms and happy students.  The workshop helps to boost morale, combat student burnout, improve learning, and to deliver core value adherence – all by implementing the four basic precepts of FISH:  Play ? Make Their Day ? Be There ? Choose Your Attitude.

• Make Everyday Count – Character Education

Lessons provided to enhance advisory activities and daily classroom lessons.  Activities featuring captivating stories, hot quotes, lesson plans, intercom insights, articles, and other resources

• Mentoring – Inspire and Motivate Young Men and Women to Reach Their Potential

Provides a mentor in a school environment.  Building a positive, new friendship to strengthen the mentee’s self-esteem and school performance.  Also, arrangements can be made to provide a pen-pal or secret pal to students who need an extra little TLC.

• Kick Butts Day

Supported with creative ideas for your school.  This is a day when thousands of kids in every state and around the world STAND OUT…SPEAK UP…and SEIZE CONTROL in the fight against tobacco.

• Why Reefer Is Madness

A workshop designed to bring awareness to the problems related to marijuana use.  The presentation will give clear facts regarding marijuana.  This workshop also introduces strategies students can use to fight peer pressure and build resistance skills to drug use.

• For Goodness Sakes

A video based presentation that show students the benefits of Goodness, Kindness, and Compassion.

• Parent Education Programs

Perfect for PTA meetings and other parent workshops.  Topics include:

• Bully Prevention
• Female Aggressions
• Cliques, Phonies and other Baloney
• Alcohol and Other Drug Education
• Discipline Means to Teach